Who will Trump pick as Vatican ambassador?

After tensions with Pope Francis, the new president must weigh carefully his choice of Holy See envoy

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Pubblicato il
12/01/2017

Ultima modifica il 12/01/2017 alle ore 12:35

Christopher Lamb

Vatican City

Donald Trump’s presidency could be a rocky ride for the Vatican, particularly given the public clashes with Pope Francis over building a wall on the Mexican border.

The relationship will be influenced in large part by who the President-elect names as his Ambassador to the Holy See, whose job representing the interests of the Trump Administration will require some clever diplomacy.

Trump, who will be sworn into office next week, was described by the Pope as “not a Christian” over his plans to build a wall between the United States and Mexico. The then presidential candidate hit back by saying the questioning of his faith was “disgraceful.”

Meanwhile, Francis’ focus on the the poor, climate change and non-violence has made him a global leader for progressive causes, a position that is likely to create tensions with Trump’s conservative approach and prioritising of US national economic interests.

This means that the next Vatican ambassador will need to have the ear of the president and be a heavy-hitter; a figure ready to represent Trump’s interests to the Holy See but who also knows the Church.

Here are a list of possible candidates:

Newt Gingrich: A prominent Trump supporter who loves spending time in Rome, he would be a high-profile nomination who is close to the president. Raised a Southern Baptist, Gingrich became a Catholic in 2009 after witnessing Benedict XVI celebrate vespers in the crypt chapel of the Washington basilica. His wife, Callista, is a lifelong Catholic and a member of the basilica’s choir. As a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2012 presidential candidate, Gingrich is a strong candidate.

Chris Christie: The Governor of New Jersey has been pushed out of Trump’s inner circle partly due to his 2005 prosecution of Charles Kushner, the father of Jared and now the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser. But Christie’s support of Trump means he could get a job which takes him out of the country. Christie was born a Catholic, sends his children to Catholic schools, and is a charismatic figure who would make his mark in Rome.

Joe Ricketts: A billionaire who planned to donate at least one million dollars to Trump’s election campaign. The 75-year-old Catholic, who runs the world’s biggest online brokerages, would have some common ground with the Jesuit Pope: his faith was transformed by an Ignatian retreat. And he later donated money to a centre offering the Spiritual Exercises, designed by Jesuit founder St Ignatius.

Joseph Forgione: Passed over to be secretary of housing and development, the property developer reportedly has support to get the Vatican posting. His chances are bolstered by his friendship with the Kushner family and the fact he raised money for Trump’s campaign. Rome will not be a foreign place as his parents emigrated from Italy and he holds dual citizenship.

Peggy Noonan: A former speech writer to Ronald Reagan and Wall Street Journal columnist, the practising Catholic is a New Yorker like Trump although was critical of his campaign to become president. After his election victory, however, she has become more positive. Noonan knows the Church well and describes her faith as the “core of her identity.”

William E. Simon Jr: His friend Rudolph Giuliani, a Trump ally and former New York mayor, has suggested him as a candidate for the Holy See post. “Bill”, as he is commonly known, is a businessman and politician who unsuccessfully tried to become the Governor of California. A serious Catholic, he is a Knight of Malta who set up an online initiative to help parishes.

Given the unpredictability of the new president it’s also worth considering some wild cards: these might include Bill O’Reilly, the Fox News anchor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and a Catholic and possibly George Weigel, the writer and biographer of John Paul II.

Whatever happens, Trump looks set to make an appointment sooner rather than later having ordered serving ambassadors to leave their posts by January 20th . Meanwhile, he has already reportedly chosen businessman Brian Burns as his new Ambassador to Ireland.